It’s Women’s Day!

What Women Want

Sometimes I do wonder why I watch bad Chinese movies like this. Perhaps my unconditional love for “Yesterday Once More” is one of the reasons (I think I should add that movie to my all-time favorites), but in reality, Andy Lau might be another reason. He and Gong Li share something very strange – I don’t think either of them is particularly good-looking, and if they were normal people I probably won’t notice them on the streets.* Both of them are strong because they are amazingly charismatic and just downright awesome. It’s their incredible talent and stage presence that makes them the most attractive couple in all of China’s movie world.

With that said, I don’t think they have made a movie together before, and I absolutely love how well they work together. I don’t care if the rest of the movie is bland (I’ll come back to that), these two alone seem to be able to save the movie. Gong Li’s superiority over all those acting youngsters has already been established almost 20 years ago in “To Live”, my favorite Chinese film of all times, and she appears to not have aged a bit. Incidentally I don’t think that’s the product of plastic surgeries, if that is what you were thinking. Andy Lau… well, he is the perfect Asian man? It’s hard to say which actor I like the most, but if you’d use more. Most sexually attractive actor? Gael Garcia Bernal. Actor I want to date the most? Daniel Brühl. Ugliest actor who I’d still date? Ge You. Largest amount of teenage heart content poured out? Josh Hartnett. Most unexpectedly hot actor? Nevil-errr Matt Lewis. And finally: Actor who I would be willing to watch bad movies for? Andy Lau. Only he can do that, because for some reason, I just enjoy his movies.

“What Women Want” is no exception to this strange rule. It’s just awesome to see these actors I like, and without a doubt, this movie was not as bad as “If you are the one 2”. In fact, I think that especially the first part of the story really had its merits. As far as I can see, Chinese culture is even more stereotypically chauvinistic than Western cultures to the point that my own parents were secretly hoping that I will not have to cope with a husband from said culture. Since I am personally now happily distanced from that, I can laugh at it – and boy it’s fun to do so. The first scenes of the film – definitely the most enjoyable ones – were very Mad-Men-like, just more absurd and almost laughing-out-loud funny. I love how the main character moves around all these overly tacky women who are way too well-dressed and amusing to see. Style-wise, the film looks much better to me than “If you are the one 2” does. It’s luxury and professionalism in a sophisticated sense. If I had the choice between aforementioned “Mad Men” and Gong Li’s wardrobe – I’d choose the latter any day. She looks radiant in the movie, oh my gosh: I already look like this, but I wish I had the boobs to wear this and I like this top on her too. Amongst everything she wears, I like this one the most.
Oh yeah, of course it helps the film that it constantly shows Andy Lau in a suit (heartthrob!) except for those scenes in which they show him in drag. (Just for that the film is worth a look.)

All in all – you have no reason to watch this film unless for some inexplicable reasons you are into Chinese chick flicks. But for me, the film was interesting enough to write a long rant on these totally unimportant beautiful things in the world.

* This anecdote warrants a footnote: I did see somebody I found noticeable on the streets. There was this tiny, very skinny guy in the subway who was no more than an inch taller than me, had dark brown hair and the bluest eyes in the world (next to 6451 perhaps). I think it’s the contrast to the dark hair which makes the blue feel different (and perhaps it is actually different?) from blonde people – quite fascinating.